Food wrapper with rip line

ABSTRACT

A food wrapper with rip line capable of being sealed for food prior to consumption and being a holder for food during consumption, the rip line being perforated or partly perforated. Also taught is a condiment or premium pocket. Also taught is a food bag with rip line having an external complementary product pocket for holding french fries and the like.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. patent application serial No. 60/375,797 filed Apr. 29, 2002, which is pending.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to a wrapper for food products. The wrapper has a rip line that facilitates the easy removal of a top portion, allowing the food to be enjoyed while still being held in the remaining bottom portion of the wrapper.

BACKGROUND AND EXISTING ART

[0003] The market for fast food is expanding, and a large part of this growth is due to the recent concept of mobile food. Drive-thru facilities are now commonplace at MacDonald's, Wendy's, and almost all fast food chains.

[0004] This has led to the development of several types of packaging; however, none of the existing designs form both a sealed container for the fast food and a convenient holder for the fast food while it is being consumed.

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 6,335,042 issued Jan. 1, 2002 to Money (assigned to Pethick & Money) teaches a tray with a rectangular base and a method for wrapping fast food with a flexible wrapper; however, there is no convenient means to access the fast food while leaving a portion of the wrapper to hold the fast food. U.S. Pat. No. 6,151,869 issued Nov. 28, 2000 to Weder (assigned to Southpac Trust International, Inc., reference U.S. Pat. No. 5,479,761) teaches a flexible wrapping material having a bonding material disposed on a surface to facilitate the fast food wrapping process; however, there is no convenient means to access the fast food while leaving a portion of the wrapper to hold the fast food.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,964,534 issued Oct. 12, 1999 to Welles teaches a flexible bag for fast food, one wall of the bag being adapted with a parting line that allows the other walls of the bag to be rolled down, exposing the fast food and forming a type of holder for the fast food while being consumed. This is expensive to produce, awkward for the consumer, and only applicable to a bag format.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,938,110 issued to Bernstein (assigned to International Paper Company) teaches a foldable cardboard container that forms a modular fast food container; however, there is no convenient means to access the fast food while leaving a portion of the wrapper to hold the fast food.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,094,863 issued Mar. 10, 1992 to Vandenburg (assigned to James River Corporation) teaches a folded sheet sealed at one end and having a rip cord to allow the removal of a top portion of the fast food package. While this does provide access to the fast food and also leaves a portion of the package to hold the fast food during consumption, the rip cord design is expensive to produce and only applicable to certain fast food package formats such as bags.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 4,589,553 issued May 20, 1986 to Ferrero (assigned to Ferrero, S.p.A.) teaches a package for rigid or semi rigid food products that may be sealed into a bag format having a rupture line that allows for the removal of one end of the package by tearing the wrapper using a tear tongue attached to the wall of the wrapper, leaving the other end to hold the food product during consumption. This requires a more complicated wrapping and sealing procedure than could easily be performed in a fast food restaurant environment, and it has a configuration that is limited to foods having a substantially rectangular shape, such as the piece of cake as shown and described.

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 2,360,597 issued Oct. 17, 1944 to Topoiski teaches a tubular material that may be cut to length to suit food products such as meats, and then enshrouded with another flexible tube which may be twisted and fastened at each end to form a Christmas cracker type of package, the flexible enshrouding tube have a pull tape which may be used to separate the two ends and allow the flexible enshrouding tube to be easily removed in two portions. While this does provide access to the food packaged therein, it was primarily designed for delicatessen products and it is not well suited to the fast food restaurant environment. Further, the design may not be flexibly applied to a variety of packaging types and sizes.

[0011] U.S. Pat. No. D417,617 issued Dec. 14, 1999 to Jensen, et al, describes a foldable cardboard design with an interlocking lid that forms a small pocket-like package for fast food; however, there is no convenient means to access the fast food while leaving a portion of the wrapper to hold the fast food.

[0012] In contrast to the above, the ideal fast food packaging design would be inexpensive, applicable to several packaging formats and sizes, applicable to several types of fast food, adaptable to simultaneously hold complimentary products, easy to use for the fast food outlet, able to seal the fast food prior to consumption, easy to open for the consumer and able contain the fast food and all toppings when open (preventing spills), allow the fast food to be held in the opened container with one hand, and be environmentally friendly when disposed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The fast food wrapper with rip line is a unique type of packaging that fully contains fast food such as hamburgers and sandwiches, and may be easily “ripped” open by the consumer to expose the contents. The package separates in a controlled fashion along a series of perforations. The top half may be removed, leaving a bottom “pocket” that keeps the fast food and toppings together, and makes them accessible for eating. The “pocket” may be held in one hand, without mess, allowing the contents to be consumed while doing other activities. This is more convenient for the consumer, and it prevents much of the mess associated with eating fast food.

[0014] The fast food wrapper with rip line may be applied to several packaging formats including flat sheets of foil/paper or bags, and multiple layer or composite materials. Further, a companion pocket may be used to contain complimentary products such as french fries. The fast food wrapper with rip line may be applied to fast food of any shape and size.

[0015] The rip line may be formed with a line of perforations, or a series of stamped or otherwise weakened dots, or any other means of facilitating a controlled tear in the package material(s). The perforations may penetrate all or some of the layers of packaging materials, others being left intact to form a better seal prior to being opened. Further, the perforations may be designed to provide a variety of pocket shapes, for example a lower front to allow more of the fast food to be consumed without being removed from the wrapper.

[0016] The rip line may be universally applied to bags, wrappers, and the like since it is continuous and does not require a specifically located rip cord or pull tape. The rip line is also easier to use since the consumer does not have to locate a rip cord or pull tape before opening the package—the two portions of the fast food wrapper may simply be pulled apart in one easy operation. Certain sections of the rip line may be weakened to ease the initiation of the ripping process, and certain other sections may be strengthened to prevent accidental separation during the wrapping process.

[0017] It is important to note that eating fast food from a fast food wrapper with rip line, after the top portion of the fast food wrapper with rip line has been removed, is a single hand operation. Further, the fast food product(s) need not be touched before they are consumed. This provides the benefits of convenience and cleanliness for the fast food consumer.

[0018] The fast food wrapper with rip line may be configured to accommodate other condiments, such as packages of ketchup or salt, by placing them in between an inner and outer packaging layer such that they are exposed when the fast food wrapper with rip line is opened. This is ideal for marketing programs or contests since promotional items may also be inserted between the packaging layers as noted above.

[0019] Finally, the fast food wrapper with rip line may be constructed of environmentally friendly materials, and it may be designed to produce less garbage than current package formats.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0020] Embodiments of the invention are described by way of example with reference to the following diagrams in which;

[0021]FIG. 1 illustrates the fast food wrapper with rip line in use with exposed fast food contents;

[0022]FIG. 2 illustrates the fast food wrapper with rip line before use;

[0023]FIG. 3 illustrates the fast food wrapper with an alternative rip line;

[0024]FIG. 4 provides an overview of the wrapping process;

[0025]FIG. 5 illustrates the wrapped fast food, ready for consumption;

[0026]FIG. 6 illustrates a fast food bag with rip line;

[0027]FIG. 7 illustrates the fast food bag with rip line in use;

[0028]FIG. 8 illustrates a complimentary product pocket, and;

[0029]FIG. 9 illustrates the fast food bag with rip line and complimentary product pocket with top portion removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0030]FIG. 1 illustrates fast food wrapper with rip line 1 in use with fast food 2. Fast food 2 may be a hamburger, chicken burger, sandwich, bagel, or any other type of fast food.

[0031] It can be seen from the illustration that wrapper top portion 4 may be easily pulled away from wrapper bottom portion 6 along rip line 8 to expose fast food 2. The user may continue to separate wrapper top portion 4 from wrapper bottom portion 6 until the two are no longer attached. Then, the user may hold fast food 2 by gripping wrapper bottom portion 6. This is more convenient, more sanitary, and much less messy than holding the fast food directly.

[0032] Wrapper bottom portion 6 conveniently holds all of the various components of fast food 2 together so that they do not spill out. Further, rip line 8 may be designed with a cut-away section 10 to provide easier access to fast food 2.

[0033]FIG. 2 illustrates fast food wrapper with rip line 1 before use. Fast food wrapper with rip line 1 may be rectangular, square, oval, or a variety of other shapes. Rip line 8 may bisect fast food wrapper with rip line 1 in a variety of ways designed to provide improved access to fast food 2 (reference FIG. 1). As an example, fast food wrapper with rip line 1 may contain cutaway section 10.

[0034] Fast food wrapper with rip line 1 may be constructed with a variety of single or multiple layer materials including paper, wax paper, foil, paper/plastic composites, and so on. Fast food wrapper with rip line 1 may be completely reversible, meaning that the two sides may be imprinted differently to accommodate two different types of products.

[0035] Rip line 8 may be formed in a variety of ways such as a series of small perforations with round, rectangular, or oblong shapes. Further, these perforations may be small enough to prevent the escape of steam, fluids, and heat, yet large enough and located close enough together to allow the easy separation of wrapper top portion 4 from wrapper bottom portion 6. Alternatively, the rip line 8 may be formed of partial perforations (i.e. prior to opening, the food wrapper with rip line 1 remains completely sealed).

[0036] The perforations that form rip line 8 may penetrate all or some of the layers of multiple layer packaging materials, others being left intact to form a better seal prior to being “ripped” open by the consumer. The intact layers may be of sufficiently weak structure to facilitate this ripping process without the aid of perforations, or they may be weakened along the intended rip line through partial perforation, or through some other means.

[0037]FIG. 3 illustrates a fast food wrapper with rip line 1 that includes an alternative rip line 8 with secure cut-away section 30. Secure cut-away section 30 prevents fast food wrapper with rip line 1 from inadvertently ripping in this area during the wrapping process. This may be accomplished by providing a wider spacing between the perforations in the area of secure cutaway section 30. This configuration will also form an improved barrier to prevent the escape of steam, fluids, and heat from fast food 2 (reference FIG. 1)

[0038] Rip line 8 with secure cut-away section 30 may still be easily “ripped” by the consumer since the ripping process may be started by first separating rip line 8 at one of the two ends. Then, the perforations in secure cut-away section 30 may be separated quite easily since wrapper top portion 4 will be partially separated from wrapper bottom portion 6, weakening the perforations in this area.

[0039]FIG. 4 provides an overview of the wrapping process. Fast food 2 may be wrapped by first placing fast food 2 upside down on fast food wrapper with rip line 1, then by creating side folds 40 at both sides of fast food wrapper with rip line 1, then by creating end folds 42 at both ends of fast food wrapper with rip line 1. Finally, the wrapped package may be inverted such that the top of fast food 2 is immediately behind secure cut-away section 30 (reference FIG. 3) and correctly oriented for the consumer. Various other means and methods may be used to wrap fast food 2 with fast food wrapper with rip line 1. Further, these various methods may be used to wrap a variety of different shapes and sizes of fast food 2.

[0040]FIG. 5 illustrates the wrapped fast food 2 (reference FIG. 4), ready for consumption. Fast food wrapper with rip line 1 may be separated by first pulling wrapper top portion 4 away from wrapper bottom portion 6 in the area of and in the direction of first step arrow 50. Markings may be provided on fast food wrapper with rip line 1 to illustrate this process.

[0041] The consumer will grip fast food 2 through wrapper bottom portion 6, ensuring that wrapper bottom portion 6 and fast food 2 remain together as wrapper top portion 4 is removed. Rip line 8 will begin to part as wrapper top portion 4 is separated from wrapper bottom portion 6, and this will ease the separation process in the area of secure cut-away section 30 as previously described.

[0042] The removed wrapper top portion 4 may be rolled up and discarded, or set aside for later disposal. Alternatively, rip line 8 may be configured with no perforations at one end such that wrapper top portion 4 remains attached to wrapper bottom portion 6, at one point, until such time as both are simultaneously discarded.

[0043]FIG. 6 illustrates a fast food bag with rip line 61 having a bag top portion 64 and a bag bottom portion 66 separated by bag rip line 68. Fast food bag with rip line 61 may be folded at fold line 62, as indicated by fold arrow 60, to form top seal 63.

[0044] Bag top portion 64 may be separated from bag bottom portion 66 in the same manner as previously described for fast food wrapper with rip line 1. Further, fast food bag with rip line 61 will be easier to separate since the there is only one layer of material in the back, as opposed to multiple layers in the case of a folded fast food wrapper with rip line 1 (reference FIG. 1).

[0045] Top seal 63 will seal in moisture, steam, and heat, and keep the contents of fast food bag with rip line 61 as fresh and as hot as possible prior to consumption. Further, top seal 63 will form a type of handle that may be used to more easily separate bag top portion 64 from bag bottom portion 66 as illustrated in FIG. 7. Top seal 63 forms a logical top for fast food bag with rip line 61; fast food bag with rip line 61 may be configured to stand in this vertical orientation and/or be placed in a horizontal orientation to suit consumer requirements.

[0046] Fast food bag with rip line 61 may be adapted for several other uses including, for example, a pizza slice bag. In this case fast food bag with rip line 61 may be formed in a substantially rectangular or triangular shape having rigid cardboard sides or an inner liner to separate the larger bottom and top surfaces, preventing the top surface from contacting the top of the pizza slice. Fast food bag with rip line 61 for pizza slices may be constructed with multiple layers for insulation and moisture barrier purposes. In this case bag rip line 68 may be designed to provide maximum access to the pizza slice while allowing the pizza slice to be held, by the crust, in the remaining portion of fast food bag with rip line 61. The rigid cardboard sides or inner liner may be designed to be removed with the removed portion of fast food bag with rip line 61, partially removed with the removed portion of fast food bag with rip line 61 by extending bag rip line 68 through the rigid cardboard sides or inner liner, or left with the remaining portion of fast food bag with rip line 61 to provide support for the pizza slice while it is being consumed.

[0047]FIG. 7 illustrates the fast food bag with rip line in use. Bag top portion 64 may be separated from bag bottom portion 66 by pulling bag top portion 64 upwards from bag bottom portion 66 such that the two will separate along bag rip line 68 to expose fast food 2. This process will be eased by the fact that top seal 63 forms a convenient handle for the consumer to grip.

[0048] Fast food bag with rip line 61 may also have a bag cut-away section 70; however, the perforations in this area may be spaced equally since there is no need to increase strength in the area of bag cut-away section 70, i.e. there will be no uneven stresses on bag rip line 68 during the filling (bagging) and sealing process. This evenly spaced rip line 61, together with the convenient handle formed by top seal 63, will make it easier to separate bag top portion 64 from bag bottom portion 66.

[0049]FIG. 8 illustrates complimentary product pocket 80 which may be attached to a side of fast food bag with rip line 61, in case the back surface. Complimentary product pocket 80 is designed to hold complimentary fast food product 82, such as french fries, or condiments to dress fast food 2 (reference FIG. 7), or any combination of the two. Complimentary product pocket 80 may be sealed or left open.

[0050] A sealed complementary product pocket 80 may be formed by extending it upwards such that it may be sealed along with fast food bag with rip line 61, and by extending bag rip line 68 around the perimeter of both areas. In a simpler configuration, a sealed complimentary product pocket 80 may be formed by placing a partition in the middle of fast food bag with rip line 61, creating a front and a rear food compartment. Multiple such compartments may be formed in this manner, and, given that each partition has an extended bag rip line 68, and all such compartments will be simultaneously exposed as bag upper portion 64 is separated from bag lower portion 66.

[0051]FIG. 9 illustrates fast food bag with rip line 61 and complementary product pocket 80 with bag top portion 64 removed. This exposes fast food 2 and complimentary product 82 for easy consumption while leaving bag bottom portion 66 in place to hold fast food 2 and complimentary product 82 during consumption.

[0052] Further, a complimentary product pocket 80 may be attached to fast food wrapper with rip line 1 (reference FIG. 1). Fast food wrapper with rip line 1, configured with a complimentary product pocket 80 in this manner, would function very much the same as fast food bag with rip line 61, as previously described.

[0053] One or more integrated condiment or premium pocket(s) may be formed in fast food wrapper with rip line 1 (reference FIG. 1) or fast food bag with rip line 61 (reference FIG. 8), by using a multiple layer packaging material. A condiment, such as pepper and salt, and/or a complimentary product, such as a prize or premium, may be sealed between the layers of a multiple layer packaging material, in one or more areas bisected by rip line 8 (reference FIG. 1) or bag rip line 68 (reference FIG. 8), such that they will be exposed when the fast food container is “ripped” open. Alternatively, a condiment and/or premium may be retained in one or more unsealed portions of the multiple layer packaging material, located in areas bisected by rip line 8 or bag rip line 68, such that they will be exposed when the fast food container is “ripped” open.

[0054] The fast food wrapper with rip line of the present invention allows for many applications. Although reference is made to the embodiments listed above, it should be understood that these are only by way of example and to identify the preferred use of the invention known to the inventors at this time. It is believed that the fast food wrapper with rip line has many additional uses that will become obvious once one is familiar with the fundamental principles of the invention. 

We claim:
 1. A food wrapper with rip line comprising: a. a wrapper configured to substantially enclose a food, b. a rip line on said wrapper defining a removable portion of said wrapper and a holding portion of said wrapper, wherein said rip line comprises perforations or partial perforations.
 2. The food wrapper with rip line as claimed in claim 1 wherein said wrapper is constructed of a single layer material.
 3. The food wrapper with rip line as claimed in claim 1 wherein said wrapper is constructed of multiple layers.
 4. The food wrapper with rip line as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rip line bisects said wrapper.
 5. The food wrapper with rip line as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rip line has at least two portions and is comprised of closely spaced perforations at a first portion and widely spaced perforations at a second portion.
 6. The food wrapper with rip line as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rip line is configured to allow the removal of a greater portion of said wrapper.
 7. The food wrapper with rip line as claimed in claim 3 further comprising a condiment or premium product pocket, said condiment or premium pocket being located between layers of said wrapper, and said condiment or premium pocket being bisected by said rip line.
 8. The food wrapper with rip line as claimed in claim 1 wherein said wrapper is marked differently on different sides, and said food wrapper is reversible to accommodate two different food products.
 9. The food wrapper with rip line as claimed in claim 1 wherein said removable portion remains attached to said holding portion when said rip line has been ripped.
 10. The food wrapper with rip line as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rip line bisects said wrapper.
 11. The food wrapper with rip line as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rip line comprises partial perforations.
 12. The food wrapper with rip line as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rip line comprises perforations.
 13. The food wrapper with rip line as claimed in claim 5 wherein said first portion is configured to be a substantially horizontal line and said second portion is configured to be substantially an arc shape.
 14. The food wrapper with rip line as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rip line is configured such that, upon removal of said removable portion, a greater portion of said removable portion is removable on a first part of said wrapper and a greater portion said holding portion remains on a second part of said wrapper.
 15. A food bag with rip line comprising: a. a bag configured to substantially enclose a food, b. a rip line on said bag defining a removable portion of said bag and a holding portion of said bag, wherein said rip line comprises perforations or partial perforations.
 16. The food bag with rip line as claimed in claim 15 wherein said bag is constructed of a single layer material.
 17. The food bag with rip line as claimed in claim 15 wherein said bag is constructed of multiple layers.
 18. The food bag with rip line as claimed in claim 15 wherein said rip line bisects said bag.
 19. The food bag with rip line as claimed in claim 15 wherein said rip line has at least two portions and is comprised of closely spaced perforations at a first portion and widely spaced perforations at a second portion.
 20. The food bag with rip line as claimed in claim 15 wherein said rip line is configured to allow the removal of a greater portion of said bag.
 21. The food bag with rip line as claimed in claim 17 further comprising a condiment or premium product pocket, said condiment or premium pocket being located between layers of said bag, and said condiment or premium pocket being bisected by said rip line.
 22. The food bag with rip line as claimed in claim 15 wherein said bag is marked differently on different sides, and said food bag is reversible to accommodate two different food products.
 23. The food bag with rip line as claimed in claim 15 wherein said removable portion remains attached to said holding portion when said rip line has been ripped.
 24. The food bag with rip line as claimed in claim 15 wherein said rip line bisects said bag.
 25. The food bag with rip line as claimed in claim 15 wherein said rip line comprises partial perforations.
 26. The food bag with rip line as claimed in claim 15 wherein said rip line comprises perforations.
 27. The food bag with rip line as claimed in claim 19 wherein said first portion is configured to be a substantially horizontal line and said second portion is configured to be substantially an arc shape.
 28. The food bag with rip line as claimed in claim 15 wherein said rip line is configured such that, upon removal of said removable portion, a greater portion of said removable portion is removable on a first part of said bag and a greater portion said holding portion remains on a second part of said bag.
 29. The food bag with rip line as claimed in claim 15 wherein said bag is closed with a top seal.
 30. The food bag with rip line as claimed in claim 15 further comprising a complementary product pocket located on a side of said food bag. 